LOS ANGELES – The NBA is 75 years old, but it can still deliver surprises.
Take New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green’s unusual request before tipoff against the Clippers on Sunday that the NBA refrain from featuring one of his players in its highlight packages.
And then there’s the reason for that wish: Jose Alvarado.
“Grand Theft Alvarado,” as the Pelicans’ rookie guard is affectionately known, is playing a innovative version of hide-and-seek that keeps successfully resulting in steals and turnovers.
A steal is part of the game, but the way Alvarado does it, his are more like well-planned heists.
Alvarado – a 23-year-old undrafted New Yorker – has been hiding his 6-foot frame in different corners of the court, ducking down and sometimes blending in with the players on his own bench, on opponents’ inbound plays.
And then, when the other team’s guard is dribbling up court, unaware that Alvarado is quietly, hurriedly approaching from behind.
He’s done it to Chicago’s Alex Caruso, Atlanta’s Trae Young, to Portland’s Kris Dunn.
And Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said hoped none of his players would be Alvarado’s next victim, and so he planned to remind his players a few times to watch out for the Pelicans’ resident thief – who averages 1.3 steals per game, and 3.0 per 36 minutes.
“We’re aware of that … we’re going to show it on film before the game as well,” Lue said. “He’ll probably still get one but we’re aware of it.
“I’m pretty sure everyone’s putting it in the scout report. (Portland coach) Chauncey (Billups) called me today and said he put it on his film and he still got it three times in the same game, so he’s very crafty at doing that so we’ve got to make sure he doesn’t get any tonight.”
Lue said Alvarado’s gambit brought to mind Pablo Prigioni, the sneaky Argentine-Italian guard who played four NBA seasons (including with the Clippers in 2015-16). Pablo “the Pickpocket averaged 2.8 steals per game in his NBA career.
“He was pretty good at it,” Lue said. “But not like this. (Alvarado is) more sneaky.”
Green said he’s surprised by Alvarado’s move every time he does it.
“Because it’s just unorthodox,” New Orleans’ first-year coach said. “But like I said, he’s a talented kid. He works hard, he works at it, and it’s a part of what he does. And we love it. If he can get steals and get an easy layup, more power to him.
“Most guys, you just haven’t seen it before, so for the first time we’re seeing somebody like hide out in the corner and here he comes. Sometimes I’m not even paying attention until it happens, so, I’m sure more teams are starting to scout him and starting to scout what he does.
“Ty Lue has looked at it and they’ll be looking behind them when they take the ball out. Hopefully he’s able to come up with one.”
Jose Alvarado does this thing where he hides in the corner and then forces travels/steals/turnovers and ive seen him pull it off 3 times since Sunday alone.
Watch how far he runs in the last one. https://t.co/GCN7MSdTEA pic.twitter.com/OEplhdIkO3
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 25, 2022
POWELL TAKES THE COURT
Per usual, Lue demurred when asked about Norman Powell’s status before the game, saying he didn’t know whether the talented guard would return to practice this week.
The Clippers’ guard suffered a suffered a fractured medial sesamoid bone in his left foot in a loss in Dallas on Feb. 10 and hasn’t been able to play – or even practice with the team – since.
Powell looked spry putting up 3-pointers before Sunday’s game, likely another good sign — if one also counts Powell’s Instagram post on Friday, a selfie that he captioned, simply: “See y’all.”
Norman Powell working out pregame. pic.twitter.com/emfXs2SS0p
— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) April 4, 2022
Nobody:
Norman Powell: pic.twitter.com/697XldLGl2
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 1, 2022